Connect with the Nonprofit Board

Each organization handles its board recruitment a little differently, but, in general, there are three basic steps to the recruitment process:

1. Express interest

2. Interview

3. Evaluate the fit

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Express interest

In general, the recruitment process begins when a candidate expresses interest in a position. This can occur through a formal outreach program or by responding to a board recruitment posting, like you can find on LinkedIn or other board or job posting sites.

Alternatively, if the organization that interests you does not have a formal outreach program or any open board postings, then you can be proactive and contact it directly to express your interest.

Prior to reaching out, you should understand that some organizations prefer to have prospective board members serve on a committee first. This is a great opportunity for you to evaluate the culture of the board, and it allows the organization to assess your commitment and passion for the mission.

Whether you follow a formal outreach process or contact the organization directly, these tips will help you establish your credibility as a candidate:

• Be familiar with the organization, its activities, and its challenges.
• Be proactive, ask questions, and answer questions thoroughly.
• Be prepared to articulate how your skills and leadership experiences can benefit the board and organization.

Interview

The interview process is the most critical step in the recruiting process. This is the opportunity for

• you to understand what is expected of you as a board member
• the board to understand how your skills, talents, experiences, and perspectives will enhance the board’s ability to advance the mission of the organization

You should prepare questions to ask and be prepared to answer many questions about you. You want to be part of an organization with a well-planned process that treats recruitment as a two-way street. View our free resources to spark ideas about the questions you should ask and prepare you for the questions you may be asked.

Both parties should get what they are looking for. Being willing and able is not enough. You must fill a need on the board at a given moment. You may bring marketing acumen to the mix at just the right time, for example, or the board may be trying to fill a gap in financial expertise.

Effective boards combine various skills, talents, backgrounds, and perspectives, and they often use a matrix of their present composition and future needs as a recruitment tool.

Even more important, you should leave these conversations with a firm understanding of what is expected of you as a board member and of what the organization’s current challenges and opportunities are. Use this information to evaluate whether joining this board at this time is the right fit for you and for the organization.

Evaluate the fit

Only you can determine if a board service opportunity is the right one for you. Here are some questions to ask yourself as you consider a specific board opportunity:

• Financial concerns

  Financial concerns are a key reason for reconsidering. Some people have a special interest in guiding struggling organizations or companies through difficulties. But others look for different incentives. They do not necessarily want to assume the responsibility or spend their time reacting to financial difficulties.

  • To assess the seriousness of financial issues, it’s important to study them closely. Consider deficits, for example. If the annual report indicates that the organization has a sizable deficit, find out why. Deficits can happen for many reasons. An organization may make a deliberate decision to incur a temporary deficit — to take advantage of a special opportunity, start a new program or service, or compensate for an exceptional delay in receiving a pledge. Or the board might approve a temporary deficit to lead the organization through a tough phase. Talk to someone who serves on the board’s governance committee and find out what the cause for the deficit is.
  • If it seems that the organization is indeed struggling financially, additional information can help you make up your mind. You may feel strongly about making this organization succeed, and you may feel that you have the acumen and interest to guide it through difficulties.
  • Please review our free FAQ on financial and fundraising issues that board members need to understand.

• Mission connection

  You decide that you are not interested in the mission. It is difficult to get excited and connected if an organization is working with issues that are not very important to you or that you don’t believe in.

• Time commitment

  You realize that you do not have time to take on a lot of additional responsibilities. You may be involved with family, work, neighborhood, and your social life, or you may already volunteer and serve on other boards.

• Lack of information

  It is difficult to receive adequate information about the organization, the board, and what is expected of you. You are not getting convincing answers or no one is willing to take the time to explore your concerns. If you get bad customer service at this level, you probably are right to hesitate to get involved.

• Board member responsibilities

  You don’t feel comfortable with the board’s expectations for fundraising and personal contributions. Before you rule out board service based on this concern, ask a few more questions. Can board members decide on a giving level based on their personal means? Does the board provide tools and mentoring to help less experienced members feel more comfortable with fundraising?

• Liability insurance

  The board does not have directors’ and officers’ liability insurance. Weigh the options and the need for the policy. Ask governance committee members if it is possible to acquire a policy. Some potential board members refuse to serve on a board without adequate coverage. For more information, review our member resource, Why is D&O Insurance Important?

• Management

  The organization does not seem well managed. When you visit the organization, you notice a lack of professionalism, poor customer service, and unenthusiastic staff. The website, publications, and other informational materials are not high quality.